Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 29, 2015	Aug. 30, 2014	Aug. 29, 2015	Aug. 30, 2014	Nov. 29, 2014
Total comprehensive income (loss) [Abstract]
Net income attributable to HB Fuller	$ 26,807,000	$ 3,987,000	$ 61,689,000	$ 39,095,000
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests	79,000	97,000	308,000	264,000
Other compreshensive income (loss) before tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(10,621,000)	(9,346,000)	(48,625,000)	(10,173,000)
Reclassification To Earnings Before Tax [Abstract]
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment	2,325,000	1,658,000	6,976,000	4,984,000
Interest rate swap	15,000	15,000	37,000	43,000
Cash-flow hedges	0	62,000	(31,000)	115,000
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(8,281,000)	(7,611,000)	(41,643,000)	(5,031,000)
Other compreshensive income (loss) tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	0
Reclassification To Earnings Tax [Abstract]
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment	(798,000)	(639,000)	(2,394,000)	(1,926,000)
Interest rate swap	(5,000)	(4,000)	(7,000)	(12,000)
Cash-flow hedges	0	(14,000)	6,000	(35,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(803,000)	(657,000)	(2,395,000)	(1,973,000)
Other compreshensive income (loss) net [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(10,621,000)	(9,346,000)	(48,625,000)	(10,173,000)
Reclassification To Earnings Net [Abstract]
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment	1,527,000	1,019,000	4,582,000	3,058,000
Interest rate swap	10,000	11,000	30,000	31,000
Cross currency amount in AOCI	0	48,000	(25,000)	80,000
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(9,084,000)	(8,268,000)	(44,038,000)	(7,004,000)
Comprehensive income (loss)	17,704,000	(4,182,000)	17,945,000	32,354,000	$ (25,253,000)
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(37,455,000)		(37,455,000)		11,184,000
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment, net of taxes	(153,947,000)		(153,947,000)		(158,529,000)
Interest rate swap, net of taxes	(23,000)		(23,000)		(53,000)
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(191,425,000)		(191,425,000)		(147,373,000)
Tax on defined benefit pension plans adjustment					84,604,000
Tax on interest rate swap					15,000
Tax on cash-flow hedges					21,000
H.B Fuller Stockholders [Member]
Reclassification To Earnings Net [Abstract]
Comprehensive income (loss)	17,723,000	(4,281,000)	17,651,000	32,091,000
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(37,420,000)		(37,420,000)		11,205,000
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment, net of taxes	(153,947,000)		(153,947,000)		(158,529,000)
Interest rate swap, net of taxes	(23,000)		(23,000)		(53,000)
Cash-flow hedges, net of taxes					25,000
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(191,390,000)		(191,390,000)		(147,352,000)
Tax on defined benefit pension plans adjustment					60,593,000
Tax on cash-flow hedges					14,000
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Other compreshensive income (loss) net [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(98,000)	2,000	(14,000)	(1,000)
Reclassification To Earnings Net [Abstract]
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(98,000)	2,000	(14,000)	(1,000)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(19,000)	$ 99,000	294,000	$ 263,000
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(35,000)		(35,000)		(21,000)
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment, net of taxes	0		0		0
Interest rate swap, net of taxes	0		0		0
Cash-flow hedges, net of taxes					0
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	$ (35,000)		$ (35,000)		$ (21,000)